Roudsea Wood and Moss NNR, Cumbria

Large Heath!!! Surely at least a month early! There were at least five of these rare butterflies on the wing today.


Large Yellow Sedge - Even rarer than Large Heath, this is one of only a handful of sites for the species in the UK.

Damselflies Delamere Forest

Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies


This is a dragonfly exuvia, i.e. the remains of the larval exoskeleton which it lived in whilst in the pond. When it's ready to emerge as an adult, the larva crawls out of the water and clings to waterside vegetation. After a while the exoskeleton splits at the back and the adult emerges, and when it's dried out, flies off leaving the exoskeleton behind. Notice how perfect it's legs and eyes are, and how it even has tiny wings. I've not had chance to positively identify this yet, but my guess is, it's a Four-spot Chaser.

Also today I had a fabulous flight view of a Downy Emerald at Shemmy Moss, but unfortunately it was very brief, and didn't land, so no photograph.

Gait Barrows, Silverdale

Four-spot Chaser


Herb Paris and Lady's Slipper

Maidenhair Spleenwort and Wall Rue

Warblers in the Sankey Valley

Warblers singing in the Sankey Valley this morning, 7:10-7:50am, Carr Mill Dam to Mucky mountains, Earlestown: Blackcap 15; Whitethroat 11 (only 2 at Penkford); Reed Warbler 10 (5 Havannah Flashes); Willow Warbler 8; Chiffchaff 7; Sedge Warbler 1 (Nine Arches).

Also seen or heard 2 Grey Wagtail, Great spotted Woodpecker, several singing Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Song Thrushes.

Common Terns, Queens Park

Two Common Terns over my house at Queens Park, near the town centre this morning. I regularly see these birds flying over during the summer. My house is on a direct line from Carr Mill Dam to Eccleston Mere and Prescot Reservoirs, and as a result I see lots of birds flying over which commute between them. In past years I have seen Osprey, Common Terns, Swans, Cormorants, Buzzards and a variety of waders.

Rainford Mosslands

One female Wheatear at Inglenook Farm, also one singing Corn Bunting here. A Dunlin in summer plumage flew low over the Old Coach Road, near the junction with Mossborough Hall Lane.

River Dee, Holt

I called in for a quick look for Club-tail Dragonflies and unsurprisingly was disappointed given the appalling weather, though there were a few Banded Demoiselles on the wing. However, I was compensated by the sight of an Osprey flying along the river and a great view of a singing male Lesser Whitethroat.